https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3ZwNhlsEb4

AMAZING WORK! GOOD TIMES!

Families, I am my doing my best to keep everyone updated on all our awesome.  In the midst of field trip planning and end of the year stuff and our amazing Ecoschoolhouse project, I may miss something!  Please don’t hesitate to ask about anything.

ESD:  Our projects are really taking shape now.  Most of our math work, some of our reading, and all of our science and writing is integrated into this work.  Our math focus has been on geometry, multiplying decimals, solving multistep problems within our projects. Next week, we will likely finish laying our 100 chart patio, refurbishing the stream table, set up the sundial structure, and almost finishing the water feature.  We are about 30% finished with our sights set on the Open House on May 20! THank you all who have donated time and money. If you have any powers over the weather…

MO Organism Calendar: We are making a F’ake Gnu (Fake News) Missouri Organism Calendar.  Each student is creating a slide and art project about a real MO Organism and a Fake Mo Organism.  Each month, readers will have to decide, is the organism fake or real. This work has been super fantastic and we are excited about our final product.  This is intended to be a fun way to talk about misleading information in this world of Fake News.

SS: This week we spent a few days covering many major Westward Expansion events.  Then we moved on to Civil War, starting with a background in Slavery in America. The Civil War will be our SS focus the rest of the year.  This will include class lessons and the really special Civil War Day. The assessment for this unit is each student will draft an authentic Civil War journal letter.  There is more information on Civil War Day in the Friday Folder.

Assessments:  I am behind on assessing some fantastic student work in each subject.  Our work is so fantastic because we conference and I use formative assessment to help kids do their best.  It is the final grading piece I am behind on. My plan is to go over all the work this weekend and then also conference with students on the work before sending it home.  In terms of district assessments, we will have the STAR reading and STAR math test at the end of May. I will let you know dates for these and any other district assessments we may take.

5TH GRADE IMPORTANT DATES SPRING 2019

MAY 6:HANNIBAL ALL DAY (ARRIVE 7:30-7:55, RETURN 4:30)

MAY 9: FUNESTA 5:00-7:00

MAY 14: CIVIL WAR DAY ALL DAY

MAY 20:5th Grade Community Project Reveal

MAY 21 (tentative): Shakespeare's field trip (Read a Thon award)

MAY 22: Graduation

MAY 23: 5th Grade Field Day/End of Year Party

MAY 24: Grant School Field Day

MAY 28: Last Day of School

MO ORGANISM LINKS

mdc: https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/search

adw: https://animaldiversity.org/

moboga: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/

safe search

CONSTITUTION WEBSITES

https://www.usa.gov/branches-of-government
https://bensguide.gpo.gov/bill-of-rights-1789-91

WE DID IT! MAP TESTING CHECKED OFF!

We finished the MAP test last week! Yay!  Students were very diligent and did their best.  We celebrated Friday with a little bit of "down" time and relaxed learning.  Now, we have turned a corner to the last 26 days of 5th grade!  So much of our time will be working on integrated work for our Ecoschoolhouse Design project.  Also, we will focus on integrated social studies and health.  There will be the all day field trips and also end of the year assessments in some subjects.  I am doing my best to outline these last days and have shared a rough outline of our focus below.

Ecoschoolhouse Design project:  This has been the most amazing comprehensive project I have worked on and it is turning out to be an incredible life experience too.  We have been humbled by gracious donations of materials and funds.  Students have been motivated and are working hard to plan our Open House on May 20.  Not only has our project involved purposeful learning, it is also providing opportunities to work together and highlight community. I think everyone will be very impressed with our final project, we are impressing ourselves daily!  Below is a current list of the materials and resources we are looking for in case anyone has something laying around!

• exterior paint
• paint brushes, trays, supplies etc...
• 2 treated 4x4x12
• 2 treated 2x4x8
• 8” x 4 ft pvc pipe
• old tarps
• 2 bags cement mix
• 1.4 ton sand

Book Shares/Hannibal:  Book Shares are due in 1 week.  During reading, we are focusing on social studies, but I am still conferencing with students on their book shares. If I have a concern about your child finishing, I will contact you and we can make a plan. For Hannibal, there was a letter in the Friday Folder mentioning chaperoning.  If you need a digital or new copy, let me know.

Kindness Week:  We will be celebrating kindness all week.  There is a kindness theme to our morning mindfulness time. We have a kindness theme every day and some Kindness Challenges throughout the week.

Evening of the Arts:  Please come and enjoy this traditional, creative, fun night at Grant from 6:00-8:00 pm.

Schedule of focus for the next month.  Please understand this is only for academics and does include all special events.  Of course, as I schedule assessments and things I will have to revise some of this plan.  However, this will be our main focus through May.  If you have any questions, let me know.

 

	MON	TUE	WED	THURS	FRI
4/22-4/26	MATH:ESD RW/SS:CONST WW:CAL SC:ESDex	MATH:ESD RW/SS:CONST WW:CAL SC:ESDex	MATH:ESD RW/SS:CONST WW:CAL SC:ESDex	MATH:ESD RW/SS:WESTEX WW:CAL SC:ESDex	MATH:ESD RW/SS:WESTEX WW:CAL SC:ESDex
4/29-5/3	THE JAZZ RW/SS:WESTEX SC:ESDex	MATH RW/SS:WESTEX WW:CAL SC:ESDex	MATH RW/SS:WESTEX WW:CAL SC:ESDex	MATH:ESD RW/SS:CW WW:CAL SC:ESDex	MATH:ESD RW/SS:CW WW:CAL SC:ESDex
5/ 6-5/10	HANNIBAL	MATH RW:POWER SS:CW WW:CAL SC:ESDex	MATH RW:POWER SS:CW WW:CAL SC:ESDex	MATH RW:POWER SS:CW WW:CAL SC:ESDex	MATH RW:POWER SS:CW WW:CAL SC:ESDex
5/13-5/17	MATH RW:POWER SS:CW WW:CAL SC:ESDex	CW DAY	MATH RW:POWER SS:CW WW:CAL SC:ESDex	MATH RW:POWER SS:CW WW:CAL SC:SHOW	MATH RW:POWER SS:CW WW:CAL SC:ESDex
5/20-5/24	OPEN HOUSE!!!!!		GRADUATION	5th FIELD DAY	FIELD DAY AM

APRIL 9 LINKS

MINDFULNESS

WRITING/SCIENCE:
MISSOURI DEPT OF CONSERVATION FIELD GUIDE
ANIMAL DIVERSITY WEB
MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDENS

SCIENCE:
PLANTS UP AND DOWN
HOW DOES A SEED GROW
BEAN TIME LAPSE

MR NIES CALENDAR INFOGRAPHIC

SS:
DECLARATION EXAMPLES scroll to bottom
DECLARATION EXAMPLES II scroll to bottom

GREAT WEEK BACK!

Families, this was an excellent week back from break.  We have been doing well with a few new routines.  For instance, we are reading nonfiction about the American Revolution during reading, we are practicing MAP testing on the computer and on paper, and we are doing most of our learning through the context of our Ecoschoolhouse Design project. I have been truly impressed with this class all year and this week was good example of their hard work, flexibility, and creativity.

A few important notices:

1. Check out our video proposal/invitation for the ESD project if you haven't yet:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDHhWeorK0Y&feature=youtu.be​

2. MAP testing starts next week.  Research shows kids do better on assessments when they are well rested and have a healthy breakfast.  The testing dates are posted on the blog IMPORTANT EVENTS.  Thanks for all you do to help kids do their best.  If anyone wants to supply a healthy MAP snack, easily packaged to hand out, feel free to send something in.

3. EVENING OF THE ARTS:

Showcase of Talent auditions will be held next week on various days before-, after-school and at lunch recess, 4/8-12.  Talent may include gymnastics, singing, dancing, athletic skills, poetry, instruments, magic, ETC. for a 2-3 minute act.  We have discussed this in all music classes and have begun signing up for auditions.  If your child needs help signing up for an audition or if you have any questions,email Pam Sisson, Grant music teacher psisson@cpsk12.org 

4. HANNIBAL: There is a parent letter in the Friday Folder describing bus options for this yearly trip.  Almost everyone has made their 10 book shares (or more)!

WEEKLY FOCUS:

SCIENCE: We will focus on the MAP test next week and will likely do some ESD planning and work.

MATH: We will practice the MAP math test next week and have lessons reviewing material for MAP testing.

READING: We will practice the ELA MAP test, continue reading nonfiction and ESD research.

WRITING: We will practice the ELA MAP test, and continue journaling about our ESD project.

SS: We will continue to learn about the American Revolution, specifically the Declaration of Independence, and how the colonists won the war. 

Below are some funny team building activity pics and Minecraft book share pics.